Matching a hire car to your passengers and luggage
Tell the team how many people will travel and how many cases, buggies or bulky bags you expect. Seating and boot space are separate questions. Say whether you need an automatic or are happy with a manual, and mention any child seat request early so it can be checked before you are quoted. Include details for every driver who may take the wheel.
Finding a car to suit the trip
Start with the journey and pick the car to match it. Smaller cars are suited to city driving and short stays, automatics make local driving easier, estates and SUVs give more room for luggage, and people carriers are a better choice for families or small groups. The range available includes the Fiat 500, VW Golf, Ford Focus Estate, Ford Focus Automatic and Hyundai i10 Automatic, subject to dates, driver details and availability. The precise make, model, transmission, seating, payload and licence position are confirmed when you are quoted, so treat the vehicles listed as a guide to the kind of hire on offer rather than a guaranteed reservation of a particular model.
Leaving room in your day plan
Your first choice might be how tightly to schedule the day. If you are visiting several places whose order could change, jot down each address with an approximate time, then mark which stops are essential and which are optional. Note a latest return time so you know the window you are working within. When you ask for a quote, say that the plan may shift and ask how amendments to dates or times would be treated. You could also check the options for collecting and returning the car if your day begins earlier or finishes later than expected. A simple list of priority stops lets you adjust the route on the day without renegotiating anything.
Planning an arrival-day itinerary
If the hire starts on the day you reach your destination, it is worth planning that first day on paper. Write down your expected arrival time, where the car fits into the schedule, and the addresses you need to reach before evening. List the bags you will have with you, including any large suitcases, and measure the biggest item so the team can consider it alongside the vehicle groups available. Note a contact number for whoever is expecting you, in case timings move. When requesting a price, include the arrival date, the number of passengers, the luggage count and the dimensions of your largest bag, and ask whether the collection point could align with your first planned stop.
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What to confirm on the phone
Before you confirm the hire, check the key details: vehicle availability, driver requirements, mileage, insurance, delivery or collection arrangements and any extras you have asked for, along with driver age, licence history, the deposit, the insurance excess and any travel abroad. A clear request gives the date, the length of hire, the rough route, the delivery or pickup address, the expected passengers or load, and any particular requirements that might affect which vehicle is suitable.